Undanbi facts for kids

The Undanbi are an Aboriginal Australian group from southern Queensland. They are also known by other names, like Inabara, Djindubari, and Ningy Ningy.

What's in a Name?

The name Undanbi comes from their own language. It is based on their word for 'man'.

Their Language

The Undanbi people spoke a language that was similar to the languages of the Jagera and Turrbal peoples. This means they could understand each other. A famous early settler, Tom Petrie, learned to speak this language very well.

Where They Lived

The Undanbi lived along the coast in southern Queensland. Their land covered about 2,330 square kilometers (900 square miles). It stretched from Noosa Heads down to the Brisbane River estuary.

Their country also went inland for about 16 kilometers (10 miles). This included the area around Pine River and the Glasshouse Mountains. They also had a connection to Bribie Island.

The Dalla people were their neighbours to the west.

How Their Society Was Organized

The Undanbi people were made up of several smaller groups or clans. These included:

• The Inabara, who lived furthest north, near Noosa Heads.
• The Djindubari, who lived on Bribie Island.
• The Ningyningy, who lived in the south, around Toorbul and Redcliffe.

The Undanbi were known for being strong and well-built. This made them look different from groups like the Dalla, who were generally smaller.

The Ningyningy Clan

The Ningyningy clan was the most southerly Undanbi group. Sometimes, they are also said to have lived on Bribie Island. An explorer named Ludwig Leichhardt called the Aboriginal people on Bribie Island 'Nynga-Nynga blacks'.

Their language was called Oondoo. The name Ningyningy meant 'oysters' in the Maroochy language. The Ningyningy were different from the Djindubari. The Djindubari used charcoal and beeswax to darken their skin. The Ningyningy, however, painted themselves with red ochre for their clan markings.

By the mid-1840s, many Undanbi people, especially from the Ningyningy and Djindubari clans, gathered in the Brisbane area. They often came for blanket handouts. They were known for their conflicts with the Turrbal clansmen. By the 1850s, some thought these northern groups were trying to push out the Brisbane Aboriginal people.

Helping Shipwrecked Sailors

Even though some historical accounts describe them as aggressive, the Undanbi were known for their kindness. They helped three shipwrecked sailors – Thomas Pamphlett, John Finnegan, and Richard Parsons. These men were found at Clontarf Point. The Undanbi treated them well for three months, preventing them from starving. This was until John Oxley found the sailors.

The town of Ningi today helps remember the Undanbi people.

History of Contact with Europeans

Some early records suggest that the Undanbi group in Brisbane saw their numbers greatly decrease within a few decades of European settlement. Archibald Meston wrote that they had mostly passed away by 1860. However, other reports from 1883 say that some Undanbi people were still living at Mooloolaba.

Other Names for the Undanbi

• Bo-oobera
• Churrabool
• Dippil (a general name for a language, sometimes used for Undanbi)
• Djindubari (the group on Bribie Island)
• Djuadubari, Jooaduburrie
• Mooloola (a river name)
• Ninge Ninge
• Nynga-Nynga
• Oondumbi
• Turrubul, Turrbul (a language name)
• Undumbi